Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

MAKOSSA

African dance rhythm originating in Cameroon, establishing itself as one of the most popular, spreading to Nigeria, Gabon, the Central African Republic and to Europe, where it has combined with Cadence in a series of dance floor hits: as one of a variety of local beats (bikutsi, ashiko, magambeu) it went from strength to strength after Manu Dibangu's international hit 'Soul Makossa' '73. It has been described as a Cameroonian fusion of highlife, Congo and local traditions, with fast and bouncy melodies against a steady bass/drum rhythm. Leading exponents incl. guitarists Toto Guillaume (b '55, Douala), who made his name with the Black Styles in the '70s, Eboa Lottin (b '42, Douala) and the innovative Misse Ngoh (b '49, Mbonjo); also singer/composer Moni Bile and omnipresent session bassist and arranger Alhadji Toure.